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HB127Introduced in the House of Delegates

Person not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.

Engrossed

Introduced by Katrina Callsen, District 54

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Court appearance of a person not free on bail. Makes various changes to provisions regarding bail hearings in jurisdictions having a public defender office, including (i) the appointment of counsel for the accused and (ii) a requirement that counsel for the accused, when practicable, be provided with adequate time to confer with the accused prior to any bail hearing. The bill also allows a jurisdiction that does not have a public defender office establish to implement such provisions. The bill provides that, effective in due course, the chief judge in each circuit shall create a plan to be completed by November 1, 2026, that establishes the means by which the jurisdiction will meet such provisions. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Where it stands

Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)

March 3, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A) · March 3, 2026

13

Yes

0

No

2

Absent or Not Voting

15 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
Creigh Deeds11Yes
Lashrecse Aird13Not Voting
Lamont Bagby14Absent
Louise Lucas18Yes
Aaron Rouse22Yes
Mamie Locke23Yes
Richard Stuart25Yes
Ryan McDougle26Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101174D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)

  4. Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)

  7. Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:36 am)

  8. Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (2/4/2026 11:49 am)

  9. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

  10. Committee substitute printed 26106177D-H1

  11. Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  12. House subcommittee offered

  13. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)

  14. Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)

  15. Read first time

  16. Read second time

  17. committee substitute agreed to

  18. committee amendment agreed to

  19. Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  20. Read third time and passed House (84-Y 10-N 0-A)

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  22. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)

  24. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N)

  25. Committee substitute printed 26108450D-S1

  26. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB127)

  27. Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)

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